# sweep away

CEFR B2 · Phrasal verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sweep-away
Updated: 2026-10-23

## Definition

to remove something completely and quickly, like a broom moving dirt or a wave moving sand. You can use it for physical things or for feelings and ideas that suddenly disappear.

For teachers: to eliminate or remove something forcefully and comprehensively. It functions both literally, regarding physical displacement, and figuratively, regarding the sudden removal of emotions, systems, or obstacles.

## Examples

- The flood waters sweep away everything in their path.
- The new manager's arrival helped sweep away the old, inefficient ways of working.
- The revolutionary fervor of the late eighteenth century threatened to sweep away the established monarchies of Europe.

## Usage notes

- often used in the passive voice when describing the effects of natural disasters or large social changes.
- Teaching tip: contrast the literal sense (cleaning with a broom) with the figurative sense (removing an idea or system) to help students see the 'completeness' of the action.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.